Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-09-30

where me fruit is sold at auction, after the
buyers found ont the facts concerning the
different shippers, fruit was sold simply
on the brand.
1t is very hard to get growers to realize
that second-grade fruit is worth much more
at home than several thousand miles away.
Every cent added TO its cost in freight is
simply so much deducted from the returns
TO the grower. 1t would have we'll paid
many of our largest growers to have hired
skilled packers at So per day, il necessary,
rather than ship good dea. of the fruit
which was sent, packed by men at 81 per
day.
But take the season ali through, with
dried fruits at the unusually high prices
prevailing, and the growers will probably
do fairly well. When we can get freight
rates down to lower basis; can have cars
furnished provided with appliances so all
the roads will receive one or more cars on
their passenger trains after the train is
broken up, and not haul them on their
freight trains, as has been frequently done
the past season; when We can depend with
any certainty on the time such fruit trains
will arrive at the East, and when shippers
will take more pains, both in quality of
fruit and packing, then will California
take the position she deseryes in the fruit
markets of the United States.
VIEWS OF DIRECTOR P. E. PLATT.
Mr.. Plat, of the heavy fruit-shipping
firm of W. r. Strong & Co, of Sacramento,
was interviewed. Mr.. Platt is one of the
Directors of the Fruit Union. and one of
the Executive Committee of three having
the management of the affairs of the Union.
He said:
An attempt was made last winter when
the Union was recognized, to include all
the heavy fruit-shippers as we'll as growers
in the organization, and by proper concen-
tration and regulation TO control all ship
ments made to Eastern markets. to the end
that the ruinous competition of last year
should be avoided. In this attempt the
management were only partially successful,
several shippers remaining out OF the
Union, and of course, to certain extent,
the fruit shipped by them came in compe-
tition with the fruit shipped by the Union,
and to the injury of both.
Mr.. Plat expressed himself as much
pleased with the friendly spirit that had
prevailed among the growers and shippers,
members of the Union. All had seemed
to be animated with the same idea, namely,
to properly distribute the fruit, so that no
unnecessary clash should occur. The man
agement had made it careful daily study
to ship the fruit to the best markets, and
always to avoid, so far as possible, the over
loading of any market. Both shippers and
growers had shown pluck and perseverance
in opening up new markets and in scatter
ing the fruit of Northern and Central Cali
fornia to all parts of the United States.
The following list of towns had all been
supplied by full carloads of our finest fruits
/ by members of the Union during the. sum-
mer: Chicago, Omaha, Kansas City, st.
7 d..
Boston, New York, Philadelphia aud New
Orleans, besides the shipments made to
towns west of the Missouri river. About
% special fruit trains had been run be-
sides a very large number of cars ON pas
Senger trains.
In New York, Boston and Philadelphia,
the auction plan had been tiled. Mr.. Plat
considered this plan still in an expert
mental stage. 1t has some features, he
added, that are good, one being the prompt
ness with which returns are made and re-
suits are known. Shippers are informed
the day after sale just what the fruit brings,
and they can at all times know Just what
the fruit is bringing. We cannot say that
the results were all satisfactory but many
of them were very much so in the early
part of the season before the Eastern grown
product was put on the markets at very
low prices.
Speaking further, Mr.. Platt said Our
pears, plums and peaches early in the sea-
son, when they arrived in good order,
brought very good prices, but much has
still to be learned respecting the method OF
handling and shipping the fruit to the ex-
IRENE East. Chicago seems to be a more
natural market for California fruits. and
will be until better transportation facilities
are afforded for shipment by the railroad
companies east of Ogden. We have found
the Southern Pacific Company using all
proper dispatch, but delays often fatal to
whole trains Of fruit are q common occur.
renee on the Union Pacific, where it would
seem there is the least excuse, owing 20 the
level nature of the road. a delay of few
hours on that road beng sufficient to make
the train too late, on reaching Chicago. to
| catch the trade of the day the fruit would
then have to be held over twenty-four
hours till next day for sale, and all cars
destined for the Atlantic seaboard reaching
Chicago two hours late were detained also
twenty-four hours; this has occurred sew
eral tines, to the very great injury of ship
pers. 1t is to be hoped this can be RENE
died by another year.
Mr.. Plat was sanguine in his belief that
another year would see many improve
ments in fruit shipping, and he predicts a
glorious lulufe Tor the business OF fruit
growing in this part of the State He was
of opinion that there are and ALWAYS will
be two departments to the business-one
being the successful growing of good fruit,
and the other the proper handling, ship
ping and distributing. He thought grow
ers would always find it profitable to work
in harmony with shippers, or in other
words, to devote their time and attention to
growing the fruit, and let the regular ship
per handle it.
EUGENE ]. GREGORY